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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
Some really cool art work, but the story is terrible! - gave up half way through... yawn!
Disclaimer: Free ARC via Netgalley
Over the summer, someone asked me about Lewis Carroll and if he was weird. She wanted to know if he was a pedophile before she read Wonderland and Looking Glass. I suppose the question crass, but when you think about it, Wonderland itself is problematic. Lewis most likely never touched the young girls, but those photos? Then considering what Playboy voted Lolita as a sexy novel, maybe we shouldn’t wonder about that. And what is Wonderland, a fairy tale? A fable? A fantasy?
Wonderland, and Carroll himself, raise these questions and also lend themselves wonderfully to the dark side. Wonderland might be magical, but there is so much beheading and darkness there. Even Alice sees it and recognizes it for what it is. People have also picked up on this – there is an Alice video game where she quests for her sanity. It’s not surprising, therefore, that this comic is a dark retelling of the tale.
In some ways, this Grimm Tales’ take on Alice owes much to the video game mentioned above. This Alice finds herself split, sanity and self are separated. She is a little girl in the body and the clothes of a Playboy centerfold. She is a stereotype, passive blonde, except when she is not. She is wholesome but not winsome. IN short, she isn’t a very interesting character. This short coming is more than made up by the other use of stock Wonderland characters – in particular the Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit (there is a very interesting nod to dolls with the character of the Queen of Hearts). This is even true of the unnamed voice in Alice’s head.
Incidentally, Alice looks very much like Marvel’s The White Queen, not just in looks but in costume. This isn’t surprising, I suppose. Look closing at the posted signs in the forest as Alice runs and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
This book is like Wonderland in many ways. The reader finds it hard to keep her footing, just as Alice finds it hard to keep her sanity. In some ways, mostly because Alice has things happen to her instead of doing things, it feels like a tour. Perhaps that is the point. We are all tourists in our heads in a way. But the passiveness borders on stupidity. When Alice finally does something, the reader wants to cheer, except then she goes right back to being passive. Perhaps this is the raging against the dying of the light? Regardless, when the minor characters who appear for a few panels are more interesting than your main one, you have a problem. Additionally, the ending, the tell all, felt very much like an info dump. One wonders why it didn’t happen before.
So why three stars? Because what the novel tries to do, or seems to be trying to do, deserves some credit. It is always difficult to write and illustration mental health problems. The ending, too, is very brave and very dark. It is about cost and life and sanity. This isn’t a great book, but it is a good try.
Over the summer, someone asked me about Lewis Carroll and if he was weird. She wanted to know if he was a pedophile before she read Wonderland and Looking Glass. I suppose the question crass, but when you think about it, Wonderland itself is problematic. Lewis most likely never touched the young girls, but those photos? Then considering what Playboy voted Lolita as a sexy novel, maybe we shouldn’t wonder about that. And what is Wonderland, a fairy tale? A fable? A fantasy?
Wonderland, and Carroll himself, raise these questions and also lend themselves wonderfully to the dark side. Wonderland might be magical, but there is so much beheading and darkness there. Even Alice sees it and recognizes it for what it is. People have also picked up on this – there is an Alice video game where she quests for her sanity. It’s not surprising, therefore, that this comic is a dark retelling of the tale.
In some ways, this Grimm Tales’ take on Alice owes much to the video game mentioned above. This Alice finds herself split, sanity and self are separated. She is a little girl in the body and the clothes of a Playboy centerfold. She is a stereotype, passive blonde, except when she is not. She is wholesome but not winsome. IN short, she isn’t a very interesting character. This short coming is more than made up by the other use of stock Wonderland characters – in particular the Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit (there is a very interesting nod to dolls with the character of the Queen of Hearts). This is even true of the unnamed voice in Alice’s head.
Incidentally, Alice looks very much like Marvel’s The White Queen, not just in looks but in costume. This isn’t surprising, I suppose. Look closing at the posted signs in the forest as Alice runs and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
This book is like Wonderland in many ways. The reader finds it hard to keep her footing, just as Alice finds it hard to keep her sanity. In some ways, mostly because Alice has things happen to her instead of doing things, it feels like a tour. Perhaps that is the point. We are all tourists in our heads in a way. But the passiveness borders on stupidity. When Alice finally does something, the reader wants to cheer, except then she goes right back to being passive. Perhaps this is the raging against the dying of the light? Regardless, when the minor characters who appear for a few panels are more interesting than your main one, you have a problem. Additionally, the ending, the tell all, felt very much like an info dump. One wonders why it didn’t happen before.
So why three stars? Because what the novel tries to do, or seems to be trying to do, deserves some credit. It is always difficult to write and illustration mental health problems. The ending, too, is very brave and very dark. It is about cost and life and sanity. This isn’t a great book, but it is a good try.
A twist on the classic childrens story. Wonderland is insane, no longer is the mad hatter alone in his madness.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the tale of what REALLY happened down the rabbit hole. The artwork in this book is completely amazing!! Alice in Wonderland has always been (to me) a fairly creepy story and the art in this really brings that to light. I've never been more scared of the Cheshire Cat before - he's a seriously creepy cat!
The story is similarly paced as other graphics I've read. Fast enough to keep you interested and, since this is technically a collection of several shorter stories, there's enough hooks to keep you in.
I think with this, and many other graphics, it's the artwork and perhaps love of a classic tale told in a different, and much darker, way.
The story is similarly paced as other graphics I've read. Fast enough to keep you interested and, since this is technically a collection of several shorter stories, there's enough hooks to keep you in.
I think with this, and many other graphics, it's the artwork and perhaps love of a classic tale told in a different, and much darker, way.
The ending brought this down to two stars for me. I like that this comic actually took advantage of the lack of physics/logic in Wonderland by having some pages be sideways, upside down, etc. The art was great when showing the gorey scenes, but seeing page after page of women with the exact same body type and lack of clothes made me remember why I've never tried reading the Grimms Fairy Tale comics before.
A note for anyone walking into this with no idea of what they’re getting into: This is NOT an adaptation of Carroll’s novel. This is a continuation of Zenescope’s horror-infused, twisted, gory take on the classic. Please note: Horror. Twisted. Gore. If you don’t like those things, please go somewhere else.
Onwards:
Having read the rest of Gregory and the Zenescope teamn’s take on Wonderland, I enjoyed finally getting to read the whole of Alice’s story. Gregory is still weaving an interesting tale, though at times it gets confusing with its lovely non-linear way of going about things. Still, it’s a fun ride if you can sit back, not thing too hard about consistency, and don’t mind gratuitous comic T&A at its finest. Zenescope is quite fond of their busty ladies and skimpy, skimpy costumes, but both the art and the colors are wonderfully rendered and pair well with the story, which is more than I can say for some of the other big-company comics I’m reading.
I’m very much looking forward to moving onto the Wonderland ongoing series, to see where Callie’s adventures take us, and how Violet and perhaps even Alice will fit in.
Onwards:
Having read the rest of Gregory and the Zenescope teamn’s take on Wonderland, I enjoyed finally getting to read the whole of Alice’s story. Gregory is still weaving an interesting tale, though at times it gets confusing with its lovely non-linear way of going about things. Still, it’s a fun ride if you can sit back, not thing too hard about consistency, and don’t mind gratuitous comic T&A at its finest. Zenescope is quite fond of their busty ladies and skimpy, skimpy costumes, but both the art and the colors are wonderfully rendered and pair well with the story, which is more than I can say for some of the other big-company comics I’m reading.
I’m very much looking forward to moving onto the Wonderland ongoing series, to see where Callie’s adventures take us, and how Violet and perhaps even Alice will fit in.
A grown up Alice in the same tiny costume.
This was one of those books where I feel like I am judging it slightly unfairly as it takes place within a world created in other comics that I have not read. At the same time, I feel that while some of the fault is mine for judging part of a larger story, some of the fault goes to writing that doesn't fully flesh out its own story.
Speaking of flesh...there is a lot of fan service here, busty ladies with bursting cleavage, flashes of legs going all the way up, this one definitely is designed to titillate. The drawings are good, I guess, but the Barbie plastic perfection just makes this feel like a less sexy Maxim.
Overall, if you are a huge fan of Alice and fake boobs, maybe there is something here for you, but don't expect a lot of work to have been put into the rest of the book.
This was one of those books where I feel like I am judging it slightly unfairly as it takes place within a world created in other comics that I have not read. At the same time, I feel that while some of the fault is mine for judging part of a larger story, some of the fault goes to writing that doesn't fully flesh out its own story.
Speaking of flesh...there is a lot of fan service here, busty ladies with bursting cleavage, flashes of legs going all the way up, this one definitely is designed to titillate. The drawings are good, I guess, but the Barbie plastic perfection just makes this feel like a less sexy Maxim.
Overall, if you are a huge fan of Alice and fake boobs, maybe there is something here for you, but don't expect a lot of work to have been put into the rest of the book.
1.5 stars as I didn't hate it but was unaware this was a second 'series' to this story (hints throughout saying look back at #XYZ for backstory/details). Plays with the tropes and characters but without the other part of the backgrounds comes across as messy (not in a horror/play with time way).
I knew the moment I saw the Alice and Wonderland comic that I had to dive right in. A dark twisted spin on the classic story. Alice is stuck in wonderland on the run from some of my favorite characters. Will she survive and escape wonderland or end up stuck with the jabberwocky forever?
I love the artwork in each book it's detailed, with detailed work on each page. I love that they are in color it just inspires my imagination more. I really enjoyed the unique take on Alice in wonderland it just works so well. The author has taken an old story added some a new exciting spin and created a beautiful piece of artwork. This is one of those comics I ended up reading the whole series one after another all in one sitting. I had to know how it would play out with Alice. I highly recommend checking it out if you are fans of Alice in Wonderland.
I love the artwork in each book it's detailed, with detailed work on each page. I love that they are in color it just inspires my imagination more. I really enjoyed the unique take on Alice in wonderland it just works so well. The author has taken an old story added some a new exciting spin and created a beautiful piece of artwork. This is one of those comics I ended up reading the whole series one after another all in one sitting. I had to know how it would play out with Alice. I highly recommend checking it out if you are fans of Alice in Wonderland.